Dr. Brent Nelson
Nelson Energy Systems Analysis Lab
Lab facility for NAU Mechanical Engineering students
Dr. Nelson’s background spans a variety of topics, with a PhD at the intersection of thermal transport, materials science, and nanofabrication; a postdoctoral fellowship in engineering design and bioengineering; a policy fellowship with the US Department of Energy; and a collaborative appointment at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. He continues to perform research with one foot in energy systems analysis and policy, and the other foot in nanoscience/bioengineering.
Research Accordion Open
On the bioengineering side, we have one primary project: using atomic force microscopy to measure protein-protein interactions
On the energy side, our primary interest is in understanding the opportunities for and economic/environmental impacts of demand side management in the energy sector. In particular, we focus on how technological and policy change affects energy consumption patterns, and how these resultant changes affect energy generation and supply, including the integration of renewable energy. We have projects looking at a variety of topics, with examples including:
- Characterization of demand side load flexibility and its potential impact on electricity system planning, costs, and emissions
- Characterization of consumer electricity demand elasticity under dynamic pricing
- Energy and climate impacts of various energy consuming technologies in different climates and grid conditions
- Techno-economic energy analysis and optimization for off-grid homes
- International energy efficiency policy strategy and analysis
Facilities Accordion Closed
- NAU High performance computing cluster
- Keck Atomic Force Microscopy Laboratory (Oxford Instruments MFP-3D Infinity Atomic Force Microscope)
- Keck Biological Sample Preparation Laboratory